Lightweight stoppage artists collide on Saturday night, as King Green faces Esteban Ribovics at UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Green (36–17–1, 17–12–1 UFC [1 NC]) has fired off four straight wins, punctuated by a first-round stoppage victory over Terrance McKinney at UFC 329 in July. Ribovics (16–3, 5–3 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his last five fights, coming off a second-round TKO win against Edson Barbosa at UFC 330 in August.
Ribovics enters as a heavy -238 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Green is a +195 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics Fight Preview
King Green
- 36–17–1 (17–12–1 UFC [1 NC])
- 13–6 (T)KO
- 10–3 SUB
The fighter formerly known as Bobby Green continues to defy Father Time. The 40-year-old King Green has won four straight fights — his longest streak since 2014 — with three consecutive stoppage victories. That includes his 12th and 13th career first-round finishes, capped by his Performance of the Night TKO win over Terrance McKinney earlier this year.
Green arrives in Salt Lake City with a versatile skill set, highlighted by one of the most exciting striking profiles in MMA. He rarely wastes time showing it all off. Still, Green has accrued some serious mileage during his 50+ fight career, and a full-throttle fight style doesn’t typically mix well with fading durability. The California native has suffered six stoppage losses inside the Octagon — four times in the first round.
Esteban Ribovics
- 16–3 (5–3 UFC)
- 8–0 (T)KO
- 5–1 SUB
Esteban Ribovics has struggled for consistency since joining the UFC, though he heads into Saturday night with momentum on his side. Earlier this year, the Dana White’s Contender Series graduate beat the brakes off of promotional linchpin Edson Barboza for a second-round TKO victory.
“El Gringo,” 30, has gotten this far behind his suffocating pressure, currently landing the third-most significant strikes per minute (7.41) ever seen at 155 pounds. The rising Argentinian heads into Salt Lake City with an 82 percent finish rate, including seven first-round stoppages. That said, he displayed vulnerability against grapplers in his second-round submission loss to Mateusz Gamrot in April.
King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics Pick, Best Bet
Don’t blink. Neither King Green nor Esteban Ribovics have shown much interest in the opinions of judges — both known for hitting the gas early and getting the job done quickly. With a combined 20 first-round finishes between them, and at plus odds, there’s tantalizing value in backing the winner of Saturday’s lightweight clash to be decided within 1.5 rounds.
